Review

Potential of mathematical modeling in fruit quality

M. A. Vazquez-Cruz¹, I. Torres-Pacheco¹, R. Miranda-Lopez², O. Cornejo-Perez¹, A. Roque Osornio-Ríos³, Rene Romero-Troncoso⁴ and R. G. Guevara-Gonzalez¹*

¹Laboratorio de Biosistemas, Division de Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, C.P. 76010, Queretaro, Qro, Mexico.

²Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya, Av. Tecnologico esq. Av. García Cubas s/n, Celaya, Guanajuato, 38000, Mexico.

³Facultad de Ingeniería, Campus-San Juan del Río Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro/Río Moctezuma 249, Col. San Cayetano, 76807, San Juan del Río, Queretaro, Mexico.

⁴Facultad de Ingeniería Mecanica, Electrica y Electronica, Universidad de Guanajuato. Campus Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato/Carr. Salamanca-Valle Km. 3.5+1.8, Comunidad de Palo Blanco, 36700, Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ramon.guevara@uaq.mx. Tel: +52 01 442 1921200 ext. 6093.

Accepted 17 December, 2009

   Abstract

A review of mathematical modeling applied to fruit quality showed that these models ranged in resolution from simple yield equations to complex representations of processes as respiration, photosynthesis and assimilation of nutrients. The latter models take into account complex genotype-environment interactions to estimate their effects on growth and yield. Recently, models are used to estimate seasonal changes in quality traits as fruit size, dry matter, water content and the concentration of sugars and acids, which are very important for flavor and aroma. These models have demonstrated their ability to generate relationships between physiological variables and quality attributes (allometric relations). This new kind of hybrid models has sufficient complexity to predict quality traits behavior.

Key words: Mathematical modeling, fruit quality, respiration, photosynthesis and assimilation of nutrients.